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Incidence of herpes zoster or shingles (a painful cutaneous eruption caused by reemergence of latent varicella-zoster virus) rises with age and immunocompromised status. The release of a live attenuated vaccine (Zostavax) in 2006 was heralded as a great accomplishment, and the vaccine was recommended for adults aged ≥50, in whom it had an efficacy of >50% for preventing shingles and its sequelae; however, this vaccine was contraindicated in immunocompromised individuals and is no longer in use. A recombinant adjuvanted zoster vaccine (RZV; Shingrix) was originally approved in 2017 for use in immunocompetent adults aged ≥50.
In July of 2021 the FDA expanded the indication for RZV's use to include those aged ≥19 who are or will be immunocompro…